It was there with the overall winner of the 36th local Half-Marathon. It was there again with the overall top woman in this year’s YMCA of Central East Ontario Balsillie Family Branch affair.

The event also featured a 5K and 1K for children and was sponsored by Subway, Accu Ped Orthotics and Footwear and Wild Rock Outfitters.

The overall winner was 22-year-old Jesse Gibbs, who hails from Timaru, New Zealand and he competed in his first half here. He finished in a time of one hour, 12 minutes, 31.3 seconds.

The leading woman was 33-year-old Kasey Walsh of Peterborough, who finished 24th overall in 1:30:20.6. It was her fifth local half appearance.

Gibbs moved to Peterborough from New Zealand two months ago to be with his girlfriend, Katie Stefopulas, a nursing student at Trent University.

They first met as high school students in 2008 when she was in New Zealand on an exchange program. They kept touch over the years, often through Skype, then in 2012, Gibbs came to Canada on a student exchange at Brock University.

Their relationship became more serious and they began dating.

“It picked up,” said Gibbs, who is finishing up his Master’s degree in tourism and is on a 12-month working visa at Runner’s Life. “It went back and forth and now I am here.’’

Sunday’s participation was his seventh overall in the distance, including five in his home country and two in Canada, the other being in Uxbridge in April of 2012.

This one Sunday was a little different however.

“I never ran in sub-zero weather before,” he said with a laugh and recovering from a cold. “But I had to adjust and it was pretty good. It was a little cool but not too cool. It was sunny and the course was good. There were a few hills to make it interesting.’’

Walsh, a runner for seven years, also has a connection to Runner’s Life as a member and for another important reason.

“My husband (Curtis Walsh) and I met through Runner’s Life,” she said. “We have been married for two-and-a-half years and got together because we both liked running. It is really huge for our relationship. It means a lot to us we do something we both like and do it together.’’

She said it was a great day to run. Curtis didn’t run but volunteered his time in other ways.

“It was a beautiful day and the route was good,’’ she said. “I like to run for the exercise and I am competitive.’’

Numbers were down in the event overall with more than 600 taking part altogether.

Race director Jeff Crowe said it had nothing to do with the day itself.

“It was a tough winter,” he said, referring to the difficult on-road conditions this season on which to train. “It wasn’t easy to get out.’’

The event once again was in support of the YMCA Strong Kids Program Campaign, which provides children, youth and teens the opportunity to participate in YMCA programming, day camps and memberships.

WINNERS

The following are the results of the top three finishers and local athlete in the YMCA of Central East Ontario Balsillie Family Branch Half-Marathon Sunday.